Oprah Winfrey to hit campaign trail for Stacey Abrams in Georgia

Kevin Winter / Getty Images

Oprah Winfrey.

Oprah Winfrey.

(Kevin Winter / Getty Images)

John WagnerThe Washington Post

Media magnate Oprah Winfrey plans to make a rare appearance on the campaign trail this week, traveling to Georgia for a pair of town halls and door-knocking with Stacey Abrams, the state's Democratic candidate for governor.

Abrams's campaign has announced town hall meetings Thursday morning in Marietta, Georgia, and that afternoon in Decatur, Georgia. The campaign's website advertises conversations "on the critical value of women in leadership and what is at stake for our communities in the election."

Abrams, who is locked in a tight race with Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp, would be the first black woman governor in U.S. history if elected. The race has been marred by allegations of voter suppression.

Winfrey's last big splash on the campaign trail came more than a decade ago, during the early stages of the 2008 Democratic presidential race on behalf of Barack Obama, then a U.S. senator from Illinois.

This year's gubernatorial race in Georgia is drawing high-profile boosters of both candidates, including President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence for Kemp and former president Obama for Abrams.

"Oprah Winfrey has inspired so many of us though the years with her unparalleled ability to form real connections and strengthen the bonds of family and community," Abrams said in a statement distributed by her campaign. "I am honored to have Oprah join me for uplifting and honest conversations with voters about the clear choice before us in this election and the boundless potential of Georgians."

A rousing speech by Winfrey at the Golden Globes awards ceremony in January stoked speculation that she might seek to challenge Trump in 2020. In comments since then, Winfrey has tamped down talk about a presidential bid.

In an interview with British Vogue over the summer, Winfrey said she did not think she was cut out for politics.

"I would not be able to do it. It's not a clean business. It would kill me," she said.